Goa shores up norms to tackle illegal mining

Panaji: In a bid to tighten the screws on Goa`s mining industry, the state government Friday gave teeth to mining officials to crack down on illegal mining.

A notification by the mining and geology department empowers its officials to enter any mine to examine documents and measure extracted ore at the site.

"Each working mine shall be inspected at least three times a year. The non-working, abandoned or mines under prospective working or under reconnaissance permit shall be inspected at least once in a year," the notification reads, mandating that the report would also have to be updated on the department`s website within 10 days.
Mining was banned in Goa over two months ago after the Supreme Court, hearing a petition filed by activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan, announced a probe by a central empowered committee.

The petition follows the revelation of a Rs 35,000-crore illegal scam exposed by a judicial commission headed by Justice MB Sha.

It also said mining companies, politicians and bureaucrats were beneficiaries of the scam.